12.1 This means that …

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Overview

This lesson covers ～ということ, which nominalizes an entire clause to express "the fact that," "this means that," or "in other words." It is used to explain, summarize, or confirm understanding of information.

～ということ is used to turn a whole sentence into a noun-like concept.

It often means:

“the fact that …”
“this means that …”
“in other words …”

It is commonly used to explain, summarize, or confirm understanding.

Verb (plain) + ということ
い-adjective + ということ
な-adjective + だ + ということ
Noun + だ + ということ

。

It means that it is raining.

。

The fact is that he is not coming.

～ということ is often used when explaining information to someone, especially after hearing something new.

。

This means that this shop is famous.

。

It means the train is delayed.

。

It means the meeting is canceled.

～ということ can rephrase what was said to check understanding. Words like つまり or 要するに often appear with this usage.

、。

So that means today is a day off, right?

、。

In short, it means we can’t go.

～ということ can also show that the speaker has realized or concluded something.

。

That means he was lying.

。

So that means there is a problem.

Casual speech

In casual speech, です is replaced by だ or is dropped altogether. Also note that という is often shortened to っていう or って in casual conversation.

きごう？

So he’s not coming?

。

It means we failed.

きごう？

So you mean it’s going to rain?

。

That means he’s not coming.

、きごう？

So that means it’s a joke?

きごう？

So it’s already over?

。

So tomorrow is a day off.

Dialogue

でんしゃ電車がとまっている止まっているということです。かいぎ会議はちゅうし中止だということをききました聞きました。つまり、きょう今日はざんぎょう残業があるということですね。ようするに要するに、よさん予算がたりない足りないということです。それはかれ彼がやくそく約束をわすれていた忘れていたということだ。かれ彼がおくれる遅れるということはしっていました知っていました。しけん試験がえんき延期されたということをせんせい先生からききました聞きました。これはもんだい問題があるということですね。かれ彼はこない来ないっていうことだよね。しっぱい失敗したっていうことをすなお素直にみとめる認めるべきです。あめがふる雨が降るっていうこときごう？かさ傘をもっていかなきゃ持っていかなきゃ。あす明日はやすみ休みってことだから、ゆっくりねられます寝られます。

It means the train has stopped. I heard that the meeting is canceled. So that means there is overtime today, right? In short, it means the budget is not enough. That means he had forgotten the promise. I knew that he would be late. I heard from the teacher that the exam was postponed. So that means there is a problem. So he's not coming, right? You should honestly admit that it was a failure. So you mean it's going to rain? I need to bring an umbrella. Since tomorrow is a day off, I can sleep in.

Grammar

Title	Description
～こと	～こと — used in ～ということ to nominalize a whole clause ("the fact that …" / "this means that …")

11.7 ～に違いない — Must Be

12.2 ～の, ～こと, 〜もの

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